When I opened my eyes, I suddenly found myself standing in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by raging flames.

  The place was like a terrifying hell. The clash of metal and agonized screams echoed in my ears. A thick black mist choked my breath.

  "Where am I? What is this place?"

  Someone suddenly emerged from the fog and thrust a sword at me. Confused, I instinctively raised my hand. Without realizing it, I was already gripping a spear, which lifted on its own and pierced straight through the man's heart, snuffing out his life in an instant.

  Blood splattered onto my face. Still unable to grasp the situation, I pulled my spear from his body.

  "What… what just happened?"

  The dense fog gradually cleared.

  Before me stood a towering mountain of corpses. Their bodies were torn apart, some beyond recognition.

  Atop the pile loomed a massive wolf, nearly the size of a mountain. Its fur was pitch black, and its sharp golden eyes bore into me with seething rage.

  Even though it was my first time seeing it, somehow, I recognized exactly who this wolf was.

  "Fenrir…" I unconsciously murmured its name.

  Our eyes met, but unlike before, an unbearable guilt twisted inside me. Meanwhile, Fenrir growled furiously at me.

  "You… you… why didn’t you free me back then? You had a choice. So why… why didn’t you choose me?"

  I lowered my head, gripping my spear tightly. "I’m sorry, Fen. I—"

  "I knew it!" Fenrir cut me off harshly before I could finish. "You never trusted me, did you?!"

  I was silent, unable to say anything.

  "I should have known. You’re just like Odin and his followers, you cursed Raven." Fenrir's voice was filled with fury, but then, her eyes suddenly glistened with something else. "Even though… even though I trusted you. I believed every word you said. I never once questioned where you came from. But why… why couldn't you trust me at all?"

  I bit my lip until I tasted a faint metallic tang on my tongue.

  "You’re not answering? I don’t remember you being mute! Speak up, you Liar."

  Pain. Every word Fenrir spoke was like a blade stabbing into my soul.

  When I finally looked up, I saw something I never expected, tears welled up in her golden eyes. My chest tightened even more.

  “I’m sorry, Fenrir,” I murmured, bowing my head, unable to meet her gaze.

  “Sorry?! You’re saying that now?! Do you think that solves anything?!”

  I knew. No. matter how sincere I was, my words would never reach her through the hatred and resentment clouding her heart.

  “You still won’t answer? Damn it! You’re infuriating! Liar!”

  Fenrir lunged at me. Her jaws opened wide, as if to devour me whole.

  “I… I will never forgive you!”

  I didn’t move. I didn’t resist. Instead, I accepted my punishment. Closing my eyes, I let her swallow me, hoping it would ease her rage.

  Darkness.

  (...)

  I jolted awake, gasping for breath. My body was drenched in cold sweat despite the frigid air. My vision was blurry, but I could faintly see the dying embers of a campfire.

  It was just a dream… right?

  "Did you have a nightmare?"

  I turned toward the voice, finding Fenrir sitting not far from me.

  "You’re still awake, Fen?"

  Fenrir shook her head slightly. "I woke up because you suddenly shifted into your human form and gripped my hand really tightly." She held up her wrist, which was reddened.

  I stared at her blankly. "Sorry." That was all I could say.

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  Fenrir scooted closer, gazing at me intently. "What’s on your mind, Yata?" Her ears twitched slightly, and her tail swayed gently, as if patiently waiting for me to speak.

  I shook my head, choosing not to tell her about my dream.

  Leaning against a large rock, I looked up at the night sky filled with stars. Fenrir did the same, tilting her head back to gaze at the constellations.

  The campfire flickered faintly, its embers glowing softly as the wood turned to charcoal. Now, only the dim moonlight accompanied us.

  Silence fell between us. Normally, it was something I found comforting, but tonight, it only pressed heavier on my mind.

  "Fen, what if you were freed from your shackles?"

  Fenrir turned to me. At first, she looked surprised, but then her lips curled into a confident grin. She clenched her fist and raised it toward the sky.

  "I’d destroy the gods who sealed me here. Especially that old bastard, Odin."

  Her voice was sharp as a blade. No hesitation. No doubt.

  I studied her expression, searching for something beyond that conviction. Then, I let out a faint smile. "Is that what you truly want?"

  Fenrir’s smirk slowly faded. The tension in her face eased, and her ears drooped slightly.

  "I don’t know," she muttered, almost whispering. "Maybe… all I really want is freedom. No more."

  I rested my arms on my knees, lowering my gaze slightly.

  "Freedom, huh…"

  If I chose not to free her, I knew exactly what would happen. The dream I had felt like an undeniable warning. But whether it was just my fear manifesting or a prophecy, I couldn’t tell.

  On the other hand, if I did set her free…

  I shook my head slightly. I couldn't let myself be consumed by fear. I had to be certain of something first.

  "If someone close to you had the power to free you," I spoke slowly, almost afraid to hear the answer, "but they chose not to… what would you think of them?"

  Fenrir didn’t answer right away. She stared into the distance, her golden eyes empty, as if trying to understand her own feelings.

  "I don’t know. I’m not sure. Because right now, apart form you, I don’t have anyone else who really close to me." This time, her voice was heavier, as if it took effort to say.

  She was uncertain. Even she didn’t know the answer to my question.

  I wanted to believe there was another way. But Ragnarok, that fate had already been written in the gods' tales. If I freed her, would I be the one to ignite the catastrophe?

  Should I choose Fenrir’s freedom and trust, or the gods?

  Suddenly, I felt something warm ruffle my hair.

  I flinched slightly, looking up.

  Fenrir stood before me, gently patting my head.

  I frowned. "What are you doing, Fen?"

  Fenrir gazed down at me, her golden eyes glowing softly in the darkness. "My mother used to say," she spoke with an uncharacteristically gentle voice, "that patting the head of someone close to you can ease their sadness."

  I froze.

  Her words were simple, yet they warmed me. The unease in my heart slowly faded.

  Fenrir continued, her voice still soft, but steady. "I don’t know what’s troubling you, Yata. But I trust you. Teheee~"

  I looked up at her.

  She smiled. Not her usual confident smirk, nor the sharp grin she wore when speaking of vengeance. It was a sincere smile, one that came from the heart of a girl who was, at her core, simply pure.

  The tightness in my chest loosened slightly.

  I smiled faintly, seeing a different side of Fenrir. "Thank you, Fen."

  Fenrir said nothing, simply returning to her seat.

  For a while, we sat in silence. But this time, it wasn’t suffocating.

  And somehow, we began sharing stories, about insignificant things, about the past, about old habits we once had.

  Fenrir spoke of how she used to play with her siblings before everything changed. I spoke of my life as a raven. Laughter and nostalgia colored our conversation.

  The night passed slowly.

  As the sky began to shift, with a faint red hue creeping over the horizon, I realized something.

  I still had doubts, fears, and worries. And I only had two days left, no more than that.

  But at least for tonight, that burden felt a little lighter.

  *****

  [PoV Hojlund]

  The salty wind lashed against my face as we arrived at the northern coast of Jotunheim. Waves roared in the distance, crashing against the black rocks scattered along the shoreline. The eastern sky had begun to change color, faint streaks of red replacing the darkness of the night.

  The Bifr?st Bridge had vanished beyond the horizon. Now, before us, stretched the vast sea that separated us from our final destination, Lyngvi Island.

  From where we stood, I could already see its silhouette in the distance. A forested island wrapped in pristine white snow.

  A faint smile crossed my lips. Even from this far away, I could feel the ominous aura shrouding that place. No wonder no one dared to set foot there, not even animals. Just how powerful had that girl become?

  Beside me, H?rd dropped the weight from his shoulders. With a heavy thud, a monstrous bull the size of a house collapsed onto the ground, sending tremors through the sand beneath our feet. Fresh blood still dripped from the gaping wound in its throat.

  H?rd let out a breath before looking at us with a blank expression. "Even this beast wasn’t enough for a warm-up."

  I chuckled. "You never change, Brother."

  Svart stood a little farther away, sipping something from a leather pouch. My plump junior only glanced at us without much expression.

  "The valley is in sight," he said, his voice hoarse and cold. "Just one journey across that sea, and we'll arrive."

  I nodded, sweeping my gaze across the shore. The waters separating us from Lyngvi were calm, with a few chunks of ice floating on the surface.

  "We rest for now." I patted H?rd on the shoulder before walking toward a mound of snow nearby. "Crossing while exhausted will only slow us down. Tomorrow morning, we’ll finish this."

  "You're right, Hojlund," Svart replied. "Besides, I still want to try this bull I hunted first."

  "I agree as well, Brother."

  I smiled again. No objections. They knew I was right.

  Turning to my two companions, I raised the sword at my waist high into the air.

  They followed suit, lifting their own swords and pressing the tips together with mine.

  "For the glory of Asgard, we must carry out the Allfather’s command to the fullest. We swear never to fail this mission." I paused, glancing at my comrades, who stood solemnly before igniting our spirits with a battle cry.

  "For Asgard!"

  H?rd and Svart followed the oath I uttered simultaneously with great enthusiasm.

  "For Asgard!"

  "For Asgard!"

  After swearing our oath, I glanced once more at the island. While this mission shouldn't be too difficult, since most of Fenrir's power was still bound, it was still a dangerous task.

  I looked back at H?rd and Svart, who were now skinning the massive bull we had hunted for our meal.

  A confident smile spread across my face. With the strength we had now, this should be enough.

  "Prepare yourself, Fenrir."